A foreigner gets a tax number in Turkey free of charge: the application is made online on the website of the Digital Tax Office (Dijital Vergi Dairesi), and the number appears on screen as soon as the form is submitted. It is needed for a title deed transaction, for opening a bank account, for paying the fee for a residence permit and for a number of other actions. The number is issued on the basis of a passport, and it does not in itself create an obligation to pay tax. It is best to get it in advance, before the contract is signed: without it, the deal and the opening of an account will have to be put off. This article explains when the number is needed, how to get it and which mistakes in the application lead to a refusal.
How buying a flat begins is described in the articles on the procedure for acquiring property and on buying remotely. The documents a bank asks for are listed in the article on opening an account at a Turkish bank.
Contents:
- What a foreigner's tax number is
- When it is needed
- How to get the number online
- What to prepare before applying
- What to do if the online application does not work
- Common mistakes in the application
- What happens to the number after you get a residence permit
- Who will find it harder
- What to bear in mind in 2026
- Frequently asked questions
- Find property in Turkey
What a foreigner's tax number is
A foreigner who does not have a Turkish identification number is issued a "potential tax number" (potansiyel vergi kimlik numarası). This is a ten-digit number issued by the Revenue Administration (GİB). It is issued on the basis of a passport, it is free and it does not require an appointment.
A tax number does not create a tax liability. The obligation to pay tax depends on tax residence and income, not on having a number.
A tax number is different from a foreigner's identification number (Yabancı Kimlik Numarası), which is issued after a residence permit is obtained.
When it is needed
According to lawyers' descriptions and information from state bodies, a tax number is asked for in situations where a Turkish organisation creates a record about you.
| Situation | Is the number needed |
|---|---|
| A sale and purchase at the tapu | Lawyers name it as a transaction document. Confirm the list at the tapu office |
| Opening a bank account | Yes, if you have no foreigner's identification number |
| Paying the fee for a residence permit card | Yes, if you have no foreigner's identification number |
| Taking out medical insurance | Yes, if you have no foreigner's identification number |
| Connecting utilities | In some cases |
| Notarial acts, registering a company | Yes |
If you already have a foreigner's identification number, most operations are carried out under it.
How to get the number online
The application is made on the website of the Revenue Administration's Digital Tax Office (dijital.gib.gov.tr), in the section for foreigners, "Potential Tax Number Application for Foreigners". You do not need to visit a tax office.
The procedure:
- Open the application page on dijital.gib.gov.tr.
- Fill in the form: first name and surname, sex, place of birth, mother's and father's names, country, passport number, mobile phone number and address.
- Upload a photograph of the passport page with your photo. The file must not exceed 1 MB.
- Tick the box to confirm that the details are correct, and submit the application.
- Write down the number that appears on screen.
If you have already applied and lost the number, do not submit a new application. In the enquiries section of the same website, you can look up a foreigner's potential tax number by passport details.
What to prepare before applying
The form asks for details that are easier to gather in advance:
- the passport: a photograph of the page with your photo, no more than 1 MB;
- your first name and surname spelled exactly as in the passport, with the same transliteration;
- your date and place of birth;
- your mother's and father's names;
- your passport number and the country that issued it;
- a mobile phone number;
- an address: the form has an address field, and if you have no Turkish address, ask a lawyer which one to give.
Save the number as soon as you receive it: your lawyer, bank and notary will need it.
What to do if the online application does not work
If, after you submit the form, the system reports that your passport details could not be verified, the application is made in person at a tax office (vergi dairesi). State sources indicate that tax offices accept exactly such applications. For an in-person visit, people usually take:
- the original passport and a copy of the page with the photograph;
- a short written request for the number, which is drawn up on the spot.
Lawyers report that if you are not in the country, a representative with a power of attorney can obtain the number. Ask a lawyer about the procedure and the documents for the power of attorney.
Common mistakes in the application
- A mismatch in the spelling of the name. In the form, write your first name and surname as they appear in the passport, with the same transliteration. A missing middle name or a changed letter leads to a refusal.
- The wrong date-of-birth format. Enter the date in the order the form requires.
- A repeat application. One person gets one number. If you have already applied, look up the number by passport.
- A file over 1 MB. The system does not accept such a file.
- An old passport. The number is tied to the passport details. After a passport is replaced, organisations that cannot find your record should be told of the change.
"Most often an application is rejected because the spelling of the name does not match: the passport has one transliteration and the form another. It is best to copy the first name and surname from the passport letter for letter," says a property lawyer from Antalya.
What happens to the number after you get a residence permit
A foreigner who has obtained a residence permit is issued a foreigner's identification number: eleven digits, starting with 99. It becomes the main identifier, including for tax purposes, and the records are matched automatically. For a transitional period, keep both numbers: banks and service providers that opened a record under the potential tax number sometimes need to be told about the new one.
Who will find it harder
- Those with no Turkish address: the form asks for an address. Ask a lawyer which address to give.
- Those whose name is spelled differently in the passport and in other documents: a mismatch in transliteration will lead to a refusal.
What to bear in mind in 2026
The new secure payment system that Turkey plans to launch on 1 December 2026 does not replace the requirements for a foreign buyer. Identification, a tax number and a valuation report remain, so it is best to get the number before the contract is signed. More on the new system is in the article.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tax number cost?
Nothing. The number is issued free of charge, and no appointment is needed.
How long does it take to get?
When you apply online, the number appears on screen as soon as the form is submitted. Applying in person at a tax office, according to lawyers, usually takes one day.
Do I need a tax number if I have a foreigner's identification number beginning with 99?
Usually not: most operations are carried out under the foreigner's identification number.
Can I get the number without being in Turkey?
The online form is available on the Digital Tax Office website. If you are not in the country, a representative with a power of attorney can also obtain the number.
Do I have to pay tax just because I have a number?
No. A tax liability depends on residence and income, not on the number.
Find property in Turkey
If you are choosing a flat in Turkey, browse the listings in the Turk.Estate catalogue. It is best to get the tax number before the contract is signed, so that the deal does not have to be put off.